Page 80 of Dare to Dance
He raised his glass. “Cheers.”
I grabbed my glass and brought it to my lips. “Fuck you.” Those were the only words that came to mind.
He narrowed his eyes as he sipped. “You didn’t believe that I knew a judge?”
I’d wanted to believe he’d been bluffing. I down the vodka in one shot then winced. A stream of fire slid down my throat, and as it did, I choked.
Trent rounded the island. “Are you okay?” Gone was the roughness in his voice. In its place was a caring quality that gave me the impression he could be a nice guy instead of a jerk.
I continued to choke, hunching over slightly. Nice man or not, when his hands landed on my arms, I plunged the knife into his thigh.
“You bitch,” he shouted in that gruff, slimy undertone that was stronger than before.
I ran for the door. When my feet hit the tiled foyer, my right foot twisted. I listed to one side, the wall catching me.
“Get back here,” he bit out as heavy footsteps thudded.
I wobbled two feet to the door. I had my hand on the doorknob when someone pounded on it from the other side. I turned the knob just as Trent’s hand landed in my hair.
I screamed, turned, and punched him in the nose. He didn’t flinch or remove his hand. All he did was grunt while blood slid down his upper lip.
Someone banged on the door again. “Ruby!”
“Kross!” I shouted.
“Open this door,” Kross barked.
Trent pulled hard on my hair.
I managed to twist around, the pain in my scalp burning, feeling as though Trent was ripping out my hair. I kneed him in the groin. His face reddened as he let go of me.
I opened the door and practically knocked over Kross.
He grasped my hips. “What the fuck is going on?” His neck corded as he examined me. Then he gently pushed past me into the suite.
My heart thumped as I followed him. “Let’s go. We don’t need any trouble.” I almost laughed at myself for saying that. If I didn’t want trouble, then I shouldn’t have shown up there or agreed to Trent’s demands, or stabbed him.
“A little late for that.” Kross’s fists were balled at his side as he stepped deeper into the room.
Trent had retreated to the kitchen, where he was pouring himself another vodka. He eyed Kross then me, appearing as though he didn’t have a care in the world, almost as if he’d been expecting Kross to show up. “What you did, Ruby, will cost you more than money now.”
“Touch Raven, and I will kill you.” My voice was even.
Kross’s eyes became pinpoints as he regarded me. “What are you talking about? What’s going on?”
“I messed up.” I hugged myself, feeling naked beneath his scrutiny.
“Your girl owes me ten Gs,” Trent said in a nasal tone. “But now that you’re here, Maxwell, I have a better plan to get my money back.” He downed the vodka.
Kross jerked his head at me, his carotid artery pulsing at what had to be two hundred beats per minute. “How in the world do you owe him that much money?” Contempt coated his words.
“Don’t judge me,” I snapped.
Fire flickered in his eyes. “What happened in the last week for you to fall prey to this fucker?”
My own pulse increased astronomically. “It’s called survival.”
“I’ve been trying to help you since I found you. Instead, you ask him.” Kross stabbed a finger at Trent, anguish flitting across his face.
